Spending a day on the mountain without coverage may seem an idyllic disconnection for many. In fact, for me it is, but it is also a situation where a false step can result in a serious problem. That's why I decided Test the Apple Watch on one of the most popular routes of the Sierra de Guadarrama: the climb to Peñalara through the Laguna Grande.
Without iPhone, without mobile coverage, only with the Apple Watch Series 7 on the wrist, activated GPS and charged battery. Can this clock really become a reliable ally in full nature? Best of all, you don't need applications to guide you.
Does Apple Watch work on the mountain?
The walk started early. From the preparation parking, at 1,830 meters of altitude, I activated the hiking training mode and marked the starting point with the “back” function. This option, available at the Apple Watch compass app, automatically records the tour to be able to Go back on your steps if you lose yourself. Already just because of this, the sense of security was superior to anyone that I have felt testing other devices.
During the ascent to the Laguna Grande, the Apple Watch not only recorded the distance, the unevenness and the rhythm, but allowed me to remain attentive to hydration and the pulse without taking out the mobile or once. Although the mobile connection disappeared shortly after starting the route, the clock continued to use the internal GPS for map the tour with precision. The data, stored on the clock, then synchronize with the iPhone when having a connection again. But the interesting thing here is that, at all times, I felt monitored, as if I was not really “blind.”
One of the surprises I took was the altimeter in real time, which helped me estimate how much it was up. In addition, every time I stopped, I could quickly consult the blood oxygen levels, heart rate and temperature No need to open any app. Everything was integrated natively, well presented and with a usability that, in mountain environments in which the comfort is scarce, makes the difference.
Upon arriving at the Laguna Grande, the silence was total. No social networks, notifications or calls. Only the sound of the wind between the pines and the voices of those families who, like me, had undertaken the adventure last Sunday. But Apple Watch was still functioning as if I were home, registering my route and marking the way. I could even consult the compass to orient myself towards the following destination, the path that goes up to the Peñalara viewpoint.
Apple Watch compass app app
In the descent, I decided to activate the “back” function for security. It was not necessary, since the road was well marked, but I wanted to check if it really worked for this article. And yes, following the indications on the screen, the clock guided me clearly by the same way of upload without possible loss. Even in more confusing areas, with road crossings, he did not lose precision.
The battery, another of the points that generates the most doubts on long routes, endured without problem. At the end, after more than five hours of intense activity with GPS activatedthere was still a 35 % load. And that I used the precise location mode. He endured to get home at night and put it to load before sleeping.
It is true that I had already tried it before in similar situations, but not for so long, and I corroborated that his role as Security tool It is brilliant. In the mountain, any mistake can be a serious problem and, since we usually be disconnected from society, having such a device can be of great help if we lose or have an accident.
It does not replace common sense or planning, but it can give you that extra peace of mind that, in the mountain, sometimes it is everything.
